Xpeng has rolled out a significant over-the-air (OTA) update, XOS 5.2.0 Beta, aimed at enhancing its XNGP smart driving system across its range of vehicles. The update introduces several user enhancements, with a spotlight on advancing the capabilities of XNGP beyond those offered by competitors like Huawei ADS 2.0, particularly in critical driving scenarios.
Key improvements include enhanced functionality in 426 different driving situations, such as navigating roundabouts without the need for pre-mapping, optimizing U-turn maneuvers, and improving handling on narrow roads.
A notable enhancement is the system’s ability to manage roundabouts seamlessly, now capable of lane changes within roundabouts and automatically responding to traffic lights, addressing a scenario less common in China. Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng commented on the smoother U-turn capabilities, stating, “For the first time I felt that our U-turn was silky smooth.”
Addressing challenges with sudden obstacles, XNGP now handles scenarios like sudden stops more calmly, avoiding emergency maneuvers. Additionally, the system can navigate obstacles even in complex scenarios such as those involving double yellow lines, where it will attempt overtaking if feasible.
New capabilities also include navigating ETC gates on highways for toll payments without driver intervention and enhancing parking assistance with improved tracking and reversing functionalities.
Xpeng emphasizes that while XNGP enhances driving autonomy, human supervision remains crucial. Li Liyun, head of autonomous driving at Xpeng Motors, highlighted different development approaches in smart driving systems, noting Xpeng’s broad accessibility approach compared to more restricted methods employed by other companies.
Since January 2024, XNGP has gradually been made available to select media and car owners, with this latest update extending accessibility to all users of Xpeng Max models including the P7i, G6, G9, and X9.
